Toy simulating a boom carrying machine



United States Patent Emil S. Masura R.R. #2, Decatur, Michigan 49045 [21 Appl. No. 742,367

[22] Filed July 3, 1968 [45 Patented Nov. 10, 1970 [72] Inventor [54] TOY SIMULATING A BOOM CARRYING MACHINE 3 Claims, 15 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 214/138; 74/892; 46/40 [51] Int. Cl E021 3/75 [50] Field ofSearch 214/138, 135(a);46/40; 254/186 N.C., 146, 150; 74/892. 89.21, 89.22

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 322,712 7/1885 Harris 74/8922 620,007 2/1889 Wood 254/146 1,553,482 9/1925 Strohacker 214/138 Primary Examiner-lrlugo O. Schulz Attorney-Eugene C. Knoblock ABSTRACT: A toy having a body, a boom, and a member supported by the boom and controlled by a cable. A reel and a driven member are mounted upon a shaft journaled in said body. One end of the actuating cable is connected to the reel. A sector member is pivotally connected to said body. Drive means responsive to the pivotal movement of the sector member engages said driven member. An actuator is operable to pivot said sector member whereby the cable may be taken up or let out by said reel to actuate the boom supported member.

Patented Nov. 10, 1970 I 3,539,063

Sheet 1 M4 INVUNI'UR EM/L S. MASURA A 7" TOR/V5 Y Patented Nov. 10, 1970 3,539,063

INVIiN'lOR. E M/L. S. MASURA AT TORNE Y Patentd Nov. 10, 1970 3,539,063

INVENIOR. EM/L 5. MASURA ff w,

ATTORNEY TOY SIMULATING A BOOM CARRYING MACHINE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved toy simulating a boom carrying machine. such as a crane or a power shovel, having a body, a boom. and a member supported by the'boom and controlled by a cable. A shaft is journaled in said body and has a reel fixedly mounted thereon. The actuator cable has one end connected to the reel so as to be taken up or let out upon. the rotation of thereel. A driven member is fixedly mounted upon the shaft which carries the reel. A sector member is pivotally connected to said body. Drive means. responsive to the pivotal movement of the sector member engages the driven member. Means manually actuated by the user is-provided for causing selected pivotal movement of said sector member whereby the cable may be taken up or let out by said reel to actuate the boom supported member controlled by the cable.

The toy of this invention includes an actuating assembly which consists of a minimum. number of component, parts which can be easily operated byfla small child to actuate a boom supported member. The parts of this unique actuatingassembly are of strong and substantial construction, thereby enabling the toy to be roughly handled by a child without breakage.

Accordingly, it is an object of thisinvention to'provide a toy of this type which is of strong construction and which has a long useful life.

It is another object ofz'this invention to provide a toy with a boom and a. boom supported member, suchaszadigger, having simplified-.meansof actuating the boomsupported-member.

Still a further object of this invention isto provide a'toy having an actuating assembly which is of rugged and simple construction.

Other objects of this invention-will'become apparent upon a reading of the invention's description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevationof a toy. constructed in accordance with the teachingsof. this inventionand having aclam'shell bucket attached thereto and supportedibya boom.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view'ofthetoy shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view-of the bucket and boom of the toy as viewed along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical: sectional view of the toy with parts shown in section taken along line 4'4'of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional'viewof the toyac- I tuating assembly taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4'.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional'viewofacablezreeItakenalong.

line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side-elevationof the-t0y of thisin vention having-a bucket-scoopattached thereto.

FIG. 8 isasideelevation-ofthe toyofthisinventionehaving a.

back-hoe attachedthereto.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary top plan viewof thetoy shown is FIG. 8'.

FIG. 10. is a fragmentary-detail:view.of anractuating;cable sheave unit which is mountedatopthebod'y oftthetoy illus trated in FIG; 8sand which=shows in:broken:linesa-cover por tion inopen position.

FIG. 11 is a. fragmentary. sectional. view; taken alongline;

FIG. is a fragmentaryside elevation of anothenmodifiedi constructionof'the toyactuating'assemblyh DESCRIBTION-OF THEPREFERRED-EMBODIMENTS be exhaustive'or to limitthe :inventionto the preciseforms dis closed; They are chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the'invention and their application and practical use to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention.

The toy illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 includes a frame or carriage 10 having two spaced pairs of wheels 12 mounted thereto. The forward wheels are preferably swiveled so as to facilitate turning of the unit. A body 14 which simulates a cab of a power shovel or crane is carried by frame 10 and is preferably pivoted at 15 about a substantially vertical axis. Body 14 is centered laterally of frame 10 and includes a bottom panel or floor 70, outer substantially parallel side panels 16 and a top panel 18 which may be utilized as a seat by the child operating the toy. An elongated rigid boom 20 extends forwardly and upwardly from body 14. Boom 20 includes forwardly converging spaced parts 22 each of which has one and secured to a. transverse shaft 24 extending through side panels 16 of body 14. The other ends of boom parts 22 are secured to a connector or sheave cover 26. A shaft 28 extends transversely through sheave cover 26 and the forward ends of boom parts22. One or more sheaves 30 are journalcd upon shaft 28 within sheave cover 26, and where multiple sheaves are used they are spaced apart by a washer or spacer 32. Boom 20 is positioned relative to body 14 by a pair of braces 34 each of which has one end secured to'a side panel 16 of body M and the other end secured to a boom part 22 intermediate its length.

A bodylock member 21 is pivotally connected to the bed 23 of frame 10 and is positioned centrally thereof and just forwardly of body 14. Lock member 21 is pivotal in a direction fore and aft of the frame and has its free end swingublc between boom parts 22', as shown in FIG. 1. to lock the body 14 in position extending lengthwise relative to the frame. A handle 35 may be secured to the parts 22 at the forward end of boom 20 to enable the toy to be pulled manually when the body islocked.

A pair of spaced inverted channel-shaped housings 60 are disposed longitudinallyin laterally spaced relation within the body 14. Euchhousing 60'includes spaced parallel side walls 62and 63 which are interconnected at their tops by web 64 and which have lower outturned flanges 66. Each housing 60 may. be secured within body 14 by'securing means, such as screws 68, extending through apertures in its flanges 66 and anchored in floor 70 of the body.

A sector member 72is pivotally mounted within each housing 60', as by means of apin 74, extending between walls 62 and 63, as shownin Fl'G..5, so as to be swingable in a fore and aft direction-within the housing. Two spaced idlers76 and 77 are journaled in each housing 60 above and in substantially the-sameplane as sector member 72.

The: side wall' 63 of each housing=60" mounts one or more bearings-53 which journal a shaft 52 extending through an aperture: therein. Each shaft 52 is positioned forwardly of idlers 76and-77 and is spaced from arcuate edge 73 of sector member--72; Adriven member 78; such as a pulley, is mounted on the shaft 52w ithin housing 60 and preferably lies in substantially the same plane as idlers 76 and 77 and sector member'72. An'endlessflexibledrive member 80, shown'in FIG. 4 as a flat belt, is trained about idlers 76' and 77 and driven-member 78; Driven member 78, idlers 76'and 77 and sectormember72"withineach housing 60 are so positioned relative to each oth'er'that atleast a portion of arcuate edge 73 of sector member 72'engages a run of drive member 80 in it drive transmitting relationship. In order to assure positive drive transmissionbetweensector member 72 and the engaged'run 81'ofdrive. member 80 during pivotal fore and aft movement of the sector'membcr, the drive member 80 may be secured to sector member72 between member 78 and idler 76 by a securing:mcans=82, such asa screw or a staple.

FIG. 13 illustrates the-use of a corrugntedor toothed flexible beltasdrivemember 80; Arcuate edge 73 of' sector member'72. idlers 761and77 and driven member 78 are also formed with teeth which'mesh with the teeth of the belt. FIG.

14 illustrates the use of a metal link chain as drive member 80. Arcuate edge 73 of sector member '72, idlers 76 and 77 and driven member 78 of this embodiment are gears whose teeth mesh with the chain. FIG. 15 illustrates another embodiment of the toy actuating assembly in which arcuate edge 112 of a sector member 110 is toothed and meshes'with a toothed rotatable driven member 114. Driven member 114 is secured to shaft 52 journaled in housing 60.

A reel 42 is secured to the end of shaft 52 which extends outwardly from housing 60. A pair of spaced elongated handles or levers 84 extend upwardly from and arepivoted to shaft 24 at the front of body 14 between boom braces 34. Each handle 84 is positioned substantially in the plane of a channel housing 60. One or a pair of laterally spaced parallel connecting links 86 are connected at one end at 88 to each handle 84 and extend rearwardly therefrom into the forward open end of body 14 and alongside channel housing 60. Each link 86 is pivotally connected at its opposite end to a sector member 72.

Each sector member 72 has an aperture 92. A rod 90 is preferably press fit into each aperture 92 and has its end portions extending through registering arcuate slots 93 in side walls 62 and 63 of the supporting channel housing 60 and through apertures in the ends of the straddling connecting links 86 which are positioned outwardly and adjacent the housing side walls. Each end of rod 90 preferably has a transverse bore which is located outwardly of the engaging connecting link. Cotter pins 94 are inserted through the bores in the ends of each rod 90 to retain the connecting links upon the rod. The length of each handle 84 is such that a handle grip 85 carried by the handle at its upper end is within easy reach of a child sitting on the top panel 18 and straddling panels 16 of body 14.

A rope or cable 36 is trained over each boom sheave 30. One portion of each cable 36 extends downwardly and rearwardly from its supporting sheave into body 14 where it is attached to a reel 42 by any suitable means, such as a closed loop 44 at the cable end fitting around a pin 46 which protrudes into a bore 48 in the core 50 of the reel as shown in FIG. 6. The other part of each cable 36, which extends downwardly from the sheave 30, is connected to a boom supported member. The boom supported member is illustrated in FIG. 1 as a clam shell bucket 38 having pivoted scoop halves 39. The construction of the bucket 38, the manner of attachment of cables 36 to the bucket parts, and the manner of operation of the bucket upon relative movement of attached cables 36 are well known in the art and are fully explained in U.S. Pat. No. 2,698,691.

To actuate cables 36, the child sits upon body 14 and grasps each handle at a grip 85. Each handle 84 may be swung about shaft 24 in a fore and aft direction with respect to body 14. Movement of one handle controls the vertical positioning of the bucket 38 and movement of the other handle controls the opening and closing of the bucket scoop halves 39. The fore and aft movement of each handle 84 causes a fore and aft rocking movement of the sector-member 72 to which it is connected by link 86. This rocking movement ofa sector member 72 causes movement of the flexible drive member 80 to which it is anchored at 82, and in turn causes rotation of a reel 42. As a reel 42 is rotated, a cable 36 wound thereon is taken up or payed out, depending upon the direction of rotation of the reel, to thereby actuate the clam shell bucket 38. An arcuate cover 43 extends laterally between channel housings 60 to the rear of reels 42. Cover 43 parallels a portion of the circumferential periphery of reels 42 and is preferably spaced a distance less than the diameter of a cable 36 from each reel 42 so as to prevent the cables from jumping the reels during actuation of the toy.

Modified constructions of the toy are shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In both constructions, boom 20 is pivoted about shaft 24 and carries either a scoop 94, as shown in the FIG. 7 construc tion, or a back-hoe 96, as shown in the FIG. 8 construction. In

FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10 a bracket 98 is attached to bod l4. Bracket 98 may include two spaced parallel walls 99 whic extend upwardly between reels 42 and which journal a transverse shaft 100. Shaft 100 has end portions which extend outwardly from the outermost sides of walls 99 and which carry a sheave 30 at each end thereof. Cables 36 extend upwardly from reels 42 and over sheaves 30 and are attached to the boom or digger parts of the toy. A sheave cover 101 is pivoted at 102 between walls 99 and includes offsets or projections 103 at opposite sides thereof at one end which snap into detents or recesses 104 in walls 99 of the bracket 98 when the cover is closed over sheaves 30. In both constructions shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, actuation of cables 36 is accomplished in the same manner as was previously described for the construction shown in FIG. 1.

Iclaim:

1. In a toy having a body, a boom, and a member supported by said boom and actuated by a cable, the improvement comprising a shaft journaled in said body, a reel mounted upon said shaft, said cable having one end connected to said reel, a driven rotatable member mounted upon said shaft, a sector member pivotally connected to said body, and drive transmission means responsive to the pivotal movement of said sector member engaging said sector member and said driven member, said drive transmission means including an idler member journaled in said body spaced from said driven member and an endless flexible drive member trained about said driven member and said idler member, the arcuate edge portion of said sector member having drive transmitting engagement with one run of said flexible drive member, and means for pivoting said sector member.

2. In a toy having a body, a boom, and a member supported by said boom and actuated by a cable, the improvement comprising a shaft journaled in said body, a reel mounted upon said shaft, said cable having one end connected to said reel, a driven rotatable member mounted upon said shaft, a sector member pivotally connected to said body, and drive transmission means responsive to the pivotal movement of said sector member engaging said sector member and said driven member, said drive transmission means including a pair of idler members journaled in said body and an endless flexible drive member trained about said driven member and said idler members, the arcuate edge portion of said sector member hav-.

ing drive transmission engagement with a run of said flexible drive member between said drive 'member and one of said idler members, and means for pivoting said sector member.

3. A toy having a body, a boom, and a member supported by said boom, first and second cables, said first cable actuating said member, said second cable actuating one of said member and said boom, first and second shafts journaled in said body, first and second reels mounted upon said first and second shafts respectively, said first and second cables connected to said first and second reels respectively, first and second driven members mounted upon said first and second shafts respectively, first and second sector members each pivotally connected to said body, first and second drive transmission means responsive to the pivotal movement of said first and second sector members and each engaging a said sector member and driven member, and first and second means for pivoting said first and second sector members respectively, whereby each said cable may be taken up and let out independently of the other cable. 

